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Microsoft would rather lose some money than lose customers to PlayStation.
The tech titan backed down on planned price hikes for its Xbox Live gaming service after outraged gamers threatened to ditch the flagship console.
“We made a mistake today and you were right to let us know,” Microsoft’s Xbox Live Gold team said in a blog post Friday night. “Connecting and playing with friends is a vital part of the game and we have failed to meet the expectations of the players who rely on it every day.”
Microsoft reversed course about 15 hours after announcing plans to charge $ 59.99 for a six-month subscription to Xbox Live Gold, which currently purchases a full year of service.
The company also said it would increase the price of a one-month subscription by $ 1 and the three-month rate by $ 5.
Angry gamers have spoken out against the plans on Twitter, with some claiming they are considering jumping on Sony’s PlayStation console.
Gamers have also speculated that the price hike was aimed at pushing people to sign up for Microsoft’s Xbox Game Pass monthly subscription service, which gives users access to a game library for $ 10 a month.
But Microsoft has said it will leave the current pricing structure for Xbox Live Gold in place, including the one-year subscription of $ 59.99. The company will also offer free games without an Xbox Live Gold subscription in the coming months, according to the blog.
“We’re turning this moment into an opportunity to make Xbox Live more in line with how we see the gamer at the center of their experience,” Microsoft said in the post.
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